May

24

Carrera versus Bolle

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Beach wear is hardly a drab wardrobe choice, but what about your sunglasses? They are the single most vital part of any summer outfit, and life on the beach makes your sunnies all the more imperative. For a sporty, fun and fashionable set of frames Bolle and Carrera are two of the hottest beach brands, but which is right for you?

Bolle sunglasses, for women, are a great design that oozes casual elegance without being overly prim or proper. They have an edge to them, they are edgy. But more importantly they offer a bit of sporty class, something hard to find in sports wear or designer wear individually, but combined as Bolle shades the look works. You’ll get the subtle boost of performance-enhancing attributes like polycarbonate lenses, wrap-around snug fit and grip pads on the temple bars, without sacrificing style. It’s also a well-established brand name that people associate with class and fun, exactly what beachwear signifies.

For dudes, Carrera shades are the way to go. You’ll find they offer a more casual and relaxed sense of fashion that perfectly suits life near the ocean. They are lightweight, meaning your face won’t sweat or get imprints from wearing them outdoors all day. Plus, they have a sporty edge to them that gives women the sense that you know your way around an ultimate Frisbee or a volleyball court.

Whatever your choice of eyewear this summer just remember that your vision is the key to understand and interacting with the world around you. Don’t compromise it with inferior eyewear, and don’t let your style lag behind just because you want to be safe! Bolle and Carrera offer ideal protection from the harmful UV rays that damage your eyes and skin, and they look cool doing it.

May

19

Sporty with Class

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Sporty sunglasses need not be unfashionable. In fact, the major brands for sportswear are working hard to design sunglasses that are both fashionable and functional. Oakley, for example, have perfected the blend of performance-enhancing attributes with sporty fashion. They are still snug, have years of R&D in the lenses and aerodynamic shape, and offer complete, 360 protection without looking too wrap-around like traditional sportswear used to. More than just sunglasses for playing sports in, Oakley has managed to make shades that are fashionable to wear even when off the field, a real bonus for many.

Many militaries are turning to sports eyewear for protection, too. Their superior quality means they can withstand the hard lifestyle and impact of life on the battlefield, and yet they are cool enough to be work on base, when not on duty. This is perfect for the soldier who isn’t swimming in cash, and of course looking cool is a primary concern for many of the 18-year-old soldiers in armies around the world. Most armies have strict rules on what kind of sunglasses can be worn when in uniform, and other rules for which can be worn on the field.

They need to be impact-resistant, shatter-proof and offer UV protection. When off the field they need to fit certain size and style and color requirements so as not to distract from the uniform’s integrity. If you’re looking for sunglasses and in the military, check with your uniform handbook to see what the regulations are before purchasing your shades online.

May

15

Finding Fashion Fun Again

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It used to be all fun and games, but as you age fashion becomes less fun, more serious and sadly, less exciting. You close the door on more extreme fads and open the door on shoulder pads. Tsk tsk. You’re beautiful at any age, and creativity and spunk is always rewarded when it comes to fashion. Why not don the D&G shades you adore rather than buying the more age-appropriate old lady no-name shades? Why not wear a tank top? Your body is wonderful, and a miracle at that! Show it off throughout your life, not just when Cosmo covers claim it’s at its peak. Shame on them, and shame on anyone who judges you for enjoying your body and for having fun with fashion once your twenties is over.

One way to find fashion fun again is to start at the top and work your way down. Your older hair isn’t any less likely to look fun and stunning when you experiment with new dye colors. Why not try red? How about black? Did you always want to try blonde but were too scared? Grow a pair and try it now, age is only a number.

Working your way down, slap on some fashionable, designer sunglasses and notice how your perception of yourself improves, and how others look at you with more fashion awe. Sunglasses are a major defining item in any wardrobe- the first and last thing people see when looking at you outdoors! Get it right, get designer shades and be a bit edgy and wild with them, after all- they are the frames through which you see the world.

May

10

Sunshine and Fun

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After a long, hard winter when the sun finally peaks out from behind the frigid clouds there are months of fun stored up ready to burst onto the scene. But without the best sunglasses, like the superior protection offered by Ray Bans, you could end up doing more harm than good to your lovely body. We don’t want that. What we want is a healthy, happy body and soul and sunshine has the vitamin D you need to get happy and healthy—in moderation.

So before you jump in the pool or frolic in the fields, slather on the sunscreen, slip on your designer Dior shades and flop on a wide-brimmed hat. We want you protected from the harmful effects of the sun while still able to absorb the nutrients, vitamins and serotonin-releasing goodness of the sunshine.

Luckily in recent years the trend of being super tan and sweaty has given way to a more natural, less sun burnt look. No longer are models burnt around the edges or suffering from heat stroke for the sake of beauty. Champions of natural skin, like Nicole Kidman, have won the day for safe skin and better sun exposure and habits. You’ll see major celebrities touting sunglasses these days, with their natural skin as evidence that they actually wear the sunglasses they promote. Even A-listed stars are eager to show off their healthy, natural hues and some of the hottest stars of the past few years have been pasty, pale and untouched by the sun.

May

5

Celebrity Sunglasses Watch

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Every once in a while we take a moment to check out what the celebrities in Hollywood are doing, what they are wearing, and what trends they seem to think are hot. They may be on the front lines of fashion, but that doesn’t make them fashionable. From Dior to Tom Ford to Armani, your favorite celebs are hard at work making themselves look ridiculous so you don’t have to.

One recent trend in Hollywood is the oversized sunglasses in odd gradient hues and even odder shapes. It’s a retro flashback that we’re not that happy about. The yellows, tans, browns and ugly oranges of the 60s should stay in the 60s, not return full force to torment another generation of otherwise beautiful women.

And the odd, angular shapes on the new releases of retro fashion only serve to point out how fashion is dominating a look, rather than complimenting it. For example, in the women pictured here only one of them looks natural in her sunglasses, the rest look like odd Dr. Seuss creations, or characters in a comic book mocking cliché blonde women. The best bet is to find a look that works with your face shape, enhancing it and bringing out the natural contours of the face rather than dominating the entire face like a billboard advertisement for an eyewear brand.

And coloring should enhance, not contrast with the skin’s natural hues. Take the lovely lady in the bottom left corner of the image. Those sunglasses aren’t doing anything for her, and the color is especially detracting.

May

2

Obesity and Eyewear

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Obesity is on the rise around the world, even in countries where staying slim is paramount to any social standing. In China, with the appearance of fast food, office-style jobs, cars and processed foods, people are appearing obese and the government has grown concerned over the sudden influx in obesity-related diseases. In the USA, obesity continues to be a problem, affecting roughly one-third of all Americans, many of whom are children. But obesity is only one symptom of living a less healthy lifestyle. Eating processed foods, driving instead of walking, working an office job with little chance for exercise, and many other elements affect the rise in obesity around the world.

In some areas we’re actually improving. Two generations ago women slathered cooking grease on their skin to help speed up their tan. Melanoma rates skyrocketed when that generation hit retirement age. An obvious correlation.

Obesity, however, has the added detrimental affect of making your lifestyle more restrictive. It’s essentially a self-perpetuating disease wherein the fatter one gets, the harder it becomes to exercise effectively, the less likely the person will ever lose weight.

Still, some things remain hopeful for those already obese. First, remember to protect yourself from more detriment by wearing sunglasses, sunscreen and a hat. Your large body may be more prone to sun damage. Designer sunglasses add a bit of fashion appeal to your look and their superior quality and design make them more likely to last, and to protect. Additionally, designer eyewear is more flexible, and will fit easier on a larger head. Try Ralph Laruen for eyewear and Armani for sunglasses, both have flexible hinges and sharp, clean-lined designs.

Apr

27

Finding time for you

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Feeling, and looking good are important. We can’t all wear Dior everyday, or have the funding to have a closet of Armani suits. Still, even with a busy schedule if you don’t make time for yourself, at least the bare minimum to make yourself look and feel good on a daily basis, your self esteem and happiness will eventually ebb or crash. Luckily, there are ways to streamline your fashion routine and clean out your wardrobe so that from day to day you need less time to look fashionable, chic and put together.

One easy way to add more time for yourself is to set aside a fifteen minute chunk of time every morning just for you. Alert your family to this “do not disturb” time and enforce it strictly. You deserve it. You can do it. Stay strong and establish this as a routine part of life and soon no one will question it. You can use this time to meditate, exercise, lay on the bed and think, or just play a few games online. It doesn’t matter, but you deserve a quarter of an hour for you.

Secondly, fashion makes you feel good. Clean out everything from your wardrobe that you hate and look at what’s left. Add to it if you need to. If you take care of your clothing they can last years, so the investment in high-quality gear is a solid, smarter choice. A few name-brand Gucci shirts will last longer, look better and make you feel smarter than a dozen Wal-Mart T-shirts that will get ruined in a few washes and will make you feel like a tossed-away and forgotten has been.

Apr

24

Hollywood’s Best Eyewear of 2012

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Hot fashion and Hollywood go hand in hand, naturally but this year we’re seeing a surge in civilian fashion that is pushing celebrities to two extremes. You have the Prada-wearing glamour girls on one side, who keep upping the ante by adding more and more frills and fluff to each outfit, and on the other hand you have celebrities who are trying to downplay their role in fashion, dressing more and more civilian every day. Paris Hilton belongs to the first group, Brad Pitt belongs to the second.

The latest trending in Hollywood indicated that more of the A-listers are using fashion as a functional rather than flamboyant means of expression. Look at Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt, the perfect couple and fashionably speaking quite a catch. Still, they don’t overdo it. They wear jeans and simple tops, minimal accessories, designer sunglasses and watches but functional, locally-produced wallets and bags. It’s almost as if they were a normal couple with a bit of money to spare on fashion, and not Hollywood’s power couple. This kind of downplayed elegance and simplicity it all the rage in Hollywood’s elite circles.

Those up-and-coming stars, on the other hand, are still trying to snare the media’s attention with wild clothing. Lady Gaga is still dressing like an asylum escapee, and Katy Perry is still trying to distinguish herself by fusing 1920s fashion with the modern millennium. These mid-range folks are flashes in the pan, and if they do stick around they’ll have to start to display a more human side to them with their fashion in the coming years or people will lose interest in an odd, meat-covered woman and a 1920s hangover.

Apr

20

Bradjolina Join Forces Again

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The news is out: not only are Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie finally engaged, but they are rumored to be working on a Ridley Scott project together. This is big news for Hollywood’s biggest couple. True, they already have several kids together, both adopted and natural, but the engagement comes as a shock to many who saw their rebellion of the institution of marriage as a political act.

The power family is seen here, as fashionable as ever despite the kids, careers and hectic international lifestyle. Both stars are wearing designer sunglasses, form-fitted clothing and modest accessories, its no wonder this couple has so firmly enjoyed the limelight for the past half decade. And as their children grow up, they too will grow accustomed to the flash of the camera and the howl of the paparazzi. Pretty soon the kids will need the Ray Bans and Tom Fords just like their parents, who manage for the most part to ignore the camera-clad crew following them from door to door.

With the news of the new project out to the public the hype will be intense. The power couple showed such dynamic promise in Mr. and Mrs. Smith that their passion was palpable through the silver screen. It wasn’t long after that we all found out they were an item. No shock after watching the steamy scenes in the film. And with the impending wedding we’re all waiting to see what the paparazzi come up with from their steamy ceremony, hopefully around the same time as the film is debuting, wouldn’t that be a dream for Ridley Scott!

Apr

17

Fashionable Fun for Cheap

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Shopping at the thrift store has never been more chic, thanks to the resurgence in retro fashion in 2012. You’ll find tossed-away designer gear at high-end thrift shops (or even the Salvation Army shops in upscale neighborhoods) like old Versace shades that went out of style for a few years, or real Levi jeans and Ed Hardy T-shirts. One of the best ways to get a fashionable wardrobe without breaking the bank is to be selective on which items you buy new and which you scrounge from second hand shops.

First, keep in mind that even wealthy celebrities have been caught shopping in thrift shops. There is nothing low-brow about recycling, and reusing winning items. When an estate closes or a teen moves off to college a lot of amazing gems end up in second hand shops, waiting for a witty fashionista to stop by and give it new meaning. Johnny Depp is one of the most obvious thrift shop shoppers, but the Olson twins, Brad Pitt and many others are also second-hand gurus.

Second, when it comes to a few key accessories you need to go bold and be genuine. If you can’t find designer sunglasses at the thrift shop then you need to buy new. Online shops usually come with some sort of discount or at least offer a few free amenities like a cleaning kit, carrying case and cleaning cloth. These things add up when you buy them on your own so every little bit helps.

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